Laser Ignition of Solid Propellants: 1. Ignition Delays
Abstract
Ignition experiments on nitrate-ester and nitramine propellants have been conducted in a closed bomb. The ignition source was a variable (< 100 W) cw C02 laser. Ambient conditions were room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Air, argon, and nitrogen gases were used. Times to detect and changes in emission rate which are attributed to onset of flamespreading have been compared with ignition delay calculations using a condensed phase radiant ignition model. Reasonable values for thermochemical properties and experimental determined values for chemical kinetic parameters and optical properties were used for the calculations. The flux dependence of the initial emission delays were in reasonable agreement with model predictions for nitrate-esters but not for nitramines. Gas phase (composition) effects on initial emission were observed with XM39, an RDX nitramine, but not with nitramines. Flamespreading delays showed gas composition effects with all propellants. These results suggest that (for all propellants) the effects of gas phase reactions on flamespreading and (for nitramines) on initiation need to be included (explicity) in radiant ignition models for predicting pressurization in gun chambers.... Lasers, Solid propellants, Laser ignition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA268454
Entities
People
- Arthur Cohen
- Richard A. Beyer
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory